Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

X-ray diffraction is a versatile characterization technique that provides a thorough picture of the crystalline phases of a specimen. Despite its applicability to a large selection of materials types and structures, a specimen must be analyzed at ambient conditions. Therefore, essential information on the behaviour of the specimen during the non-ambient treatment and precious data on reactions kinetics are inaccessible. Thanks to recent technological advances, it is now possible to acquire the X-ray diffraction pattern of a specimen while exposed to high temperatures and pressures of various atmospheres using an in-situ reaction chamber. In this proposal, we request an Anton-Paar reaction chamber that is designed to work on the existing X'PERT PRO diffractometer and in conjunction with the small angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering instruments (S/WAXS). The crystalline data from a specimen subject to non-ambient conditions can be collected with the reaction chamber connected to the diffractometer. Meanwhile, information on size, shape and distribution of colloids under these conditions of all types (metals, cement, oil, polymers, plastics, proteins, foods and pharmaceuticals) can be captured with the reaction chamber connected to the S/WAXS instruments. The reaction chamber exhaust line will be connected to a mass spectrometer (MS) already on site and ready to be dedicated to the reaction chamber. This is a ~50,000 $-worth equipment complementing the chamber by providing in-line analysis of the exhaust gas. The reaction chamber is a key instrument that brings novel and fresh insight to the existing research activities of all 4 co-applicants. The topics covered by the research activities pertaining to the chamber are: catalysis investigations, electrocatalysis design, gas-solid interaction research and concrete formation studies. The diversity of the affiliation of the co-applicants reflects the versatility of the reaction chamber in a wide spectrum of research projects. The chamber is set to be used by research groups in the Faculty of Civil, Chemical & Biotechnological and the Faculty of Science (Chemistry).